Mumbai, Feb 17 (PTI) Scores of employees were
evacuated from the GST Bhavan in south Mumbai after a massive
fire broke out in the multi-storey building on Monday, but no
casualty was reported, civic officials said.

Nearly 3,500 staffers were working in the building in
the Mazagon area when the fire broke out around 12.30 pm,
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said.

He assured a probe into the the fire, but clarified
no records were lost in the blaze due to digitisation of
documents.

Firefighters battled for almost three hours to douse
the flames, which started on the ninth floor of the 10-storey
government-owned building, the officials said.

Speaking to media persons at the spot, Pawar said the
fire spread rapidly due to presence of papers and wooden
material in the building, from where thick smoke billowed out.

Over 20 fire engines were pressed into service to put
out the inferno and cooling operation was underway, they said.

The fire started from the ninth floor of the building
and spread to the 10th floor, the officials said.